.....,......--- todrowJe SAINTS, f r ate: jerufalern and from Iudah, the mighty nYaits,, and the Lagigc, and the Prophet, Efáy, 3. e, a. Whether' it bee br_ death, orremoveall or imprifhnment, or fufpending, or any other way : It is hee that deprives a people of his faithfuÌI Minifters, wholoever be the, inftrument. Firf}, He can take them away by Death out of the world ; Thus the Lord took away the Prophet Enoch, Gen. 5.24. Secondly, He can take them away by-remáveall, thus hec took away Jonas trom Ifrael, and lent him to Niniveh, Jon, 3.1. Yee know he was a Prophet in ¡free!, and the Lord-re- moved him thence to the Land of Affyria, Thirdly, He can take them away by letting them be Im- prifoned , thus hee tooke away John the Bapt:ft, by letting Herod put him into Prifon, for telling him of his f ns,Mark 6.` t7 . So, Ahab imprifoned Michaiah for telling him the truth. Fourthly, He can take them away by letting them be fuf- pended, and inhibited from Preaching, by letting wicked men have their wills. That fay to the Seers, fee not ; and to the Prophets prophetic not; Speak to us iiiaooth things, prophe- tic deceits, Efay, 3o. ro. Thus King Ántaziah filenced the Prophet that reproved him, 2 Chren.25.16. Fifthly, Hee can take them away by Glencing them him - felfe ; this is as bad as taking them away for the time, thus himfelfftopt Ezechiels mouth, and made him dumb. Now the Re.' km by Chrif} does doe thus, is Firft, be- Reaf r, caule of the wicked they will not receive their Doctrine. Thus the Lord Jefits tooke away Paul out of lerufalem,. Make ha/1,get thee quick!), out of Jerufalem,for they will not receive thy teffimony concerning mee, Ai. 22.18. Secondly, The Lord does it in regard of his owne people, Reer2 becaufe they begin to forlike their firft love. This was the reafhn why the Lord threatned to take a way the Minif}ery of the Word out ofEphefus, I will remove thy Candlefick, out of its place, except thou repent, Revel. z. 5. Thirdly, The Lord does this fometimes in regard of the Miniftery it fell, that it may bee more precious afterwards, X 3 as I Is7
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